This publication contains selected
results from the first comprehensive survey
of the New York equine industry in five years.

EQUINE BY PRIMARY USE

Fifty-four percent of equine in New York were kept primarily for pleasure use,
up from 39 percent in 2000. Breeding horses totaled 26,900, down slightly from
2000. A total of 14,500 equine were used primarily for racing, with Thoroughbreds
accounting for 63 percent and Standardbreds accounting for 37 percent. Fourteen
percent of equine in New York were used for competition, totaling 27,000 head.
The category of lesson horses was added for the 2005 survey and totaled 11,100
head of horses. The remainder of New York’s horses were used for specialty
use (riding camps, carriage rides, etc.) or “Other” uses, such as farm
work.

EQUINE BY PRIMARY USE AND DISTRICT,
NEW YORK, 2005

District

Total Equine

Breeding

Lessons

Racing

Competition

Pleasure

Specialty

All Other

Northern

7,400

900

400

100

600

4,500

-

900

Northeast

6,400

900

200

400

1,000

3,300

-

600

Western

37,900

4,300

1,900

3,800

7,100

15,000

800

5,000

Central

32,300

4,800

1,600

1,600

4,700

13,600

700

5,300

Eastern

29,100

4,100

1,000

2,000

3,400

15,400

-

3,200

Southwest

14,700

2,500

600

300

1,000

7,900

300

2,100

Southern

11,400

1,900

700

200

1,100

5,700

400

1,400

Southeast

42,500

6,000

3,000

3,400

5,900

16,000

2,000

6,200

Long Island and NYC

15,300

1,500

1,700

2,700

2,200

5,600

500

1,100

STATE

197,000

26,900

11,100

14,500

27,000

87,000

4,700

25,800

EQUINE OPERATIONS

Equine operations in New York State increased 10
percent to 33,000 total operations. The largest growth was seen in non-commercial/non-farm
operations increasing to 19,100 operations up 31 percent from 2000.

EQUINE OPERATIONS BY TYPE AND DISTRICT,
NEW YORK, 2005

Discipline

Total Operations

Primary Type

Commercial Boarding & Training

Commercial Breeding

Crop/Livestock Farm

Non-commercial/
Non-farm

Other 1/

Northern

1,700

100

2/

650

800

2/

Northeast

1,300

150

2/

250

800

2/

Western

8,000

1,200

450

1,400

4,750

200

Central

6,000

700

400

1,200

3,500

200

Eastern

3,400

500

300

500

2,000

100

Southwest

3,400

400

200

900

1,800

100

Southern

1,800

300

200

2/

900

2/

Southeast

5,600

1,050

500

650

3,200

200

Long
Island and NYC

1,800

300

2/

2/

1,350

2/

STATE

33,000

4,700

2,300

6,000

19,100

900

1/ Includes race tracks, fairgrounds, and other
public facilities or institutions
2/ Less than 100 operations or hidden for disclosure
reasons

ASSETS

The 2005 Equine Survey indicated total equine-related
assets of $10.4 billion on December 31, 2005. This was a 69 percent increase
over the 2000 survey. Land, fences, and buildings accounted for $7.08 billion,
while equine on hand accounted for $1.83 billion.

VALUE OF EQUINE RELATED ASSETS BY DISTRICT, BY DISTRICT, NEW YORK, 2005

District

Total Equine Related Assets

Value
of Equine
On Hand

Total Value
of Equine Related Land, Fencing and Buildings

Vehicles and Equipment

Tack, Equipment
and
Clothing

Equine
Feed and Supplies
on Hand

Total

Horse Trailers and Vans

Thousand Dollars

Northern

121,280

20,290

57,880

35,450

8,230

5,330

2,330

Northeast

259,020

30,540

172,940

45,170

10,870

8,810

1,560

Western

1,437,520

162,620

940,450

256,620

60,780

59,810

18,020

Central

857,780

163,690

478,560

169,730

39,410

34,500

11,300

Eastern

1,173,850

416,340

630,770

99,640

26,340

18,990

8,110

Southwest

318,940

37,780

174,530

85,230

20,650

13,470

7,930

Southern

243,970

52,970

136,210

44,400

6,810

6,990

3,400

Southeast

3,439,020

500,120

2,605,060

243,390

51,320

75,260

15,190

Long
Island and NYC

2,510,180

446,690

1,888,430

125,660

48,140

45,020

4,380

STATE

10,361,560

1,831,040

7,084,830

1,105,290

272,550

268,180

72,220

EXPENDITURES

New York equine owners spent a total of $2.06 billion during 2005 for operating
and capital expenses, an increase of nearly three times above the 2000 total
of $704 million. Of this $2.06 billion, about $1.10 billion was for operating
expenses, which includes items such as boarding, training, feed, and hired labor.
Capital expenditures totaled $958 million, up from $181 million in 2000. The
increase in capital expenditures was mostly from purchased real estate and improvements,
totaling $490 million.

EQUINE RELATED EXPENDITURES, NEW
YORK, 2000 AND 2005

Expense Category

Total Expenditures

Average per Equine

2000

2005

Percent Spent
in New York

2000

2005

Thousand Dollars

Percent

Dollars

Operating
Expenses

522,860

1,101,940

91

3,112

5,594

Boarding

54,800

155,920

95

326

791

Training

2/

57,330

90

2/

291

Breeding Fees and Related Expenses

22,000

28,310

71

131

144

Farrier

23,400

52,160

95

139

265

Veterinary and Health Expenses

32,590

74,000

87

194

376

Shipping and Travel

14,810

31,010

82

88

157

Purchased Bedding

18,750

32,300

90

112

164

Value of Home-grown Bedding

NA

2,330

NA

NA

12

Purchased Grain

24,920

47,360

97

148

240

Value of Home-grown Grain

NA

1,490

NA

NA

8

Mixed or Formula Feeds

16,700

15,630

85

99

79

Medicine

3/

14,870

87

3/

75

Supplies

11,050

25,400

90

66

129

Manure Disposal

NA

6,350

93

NA

32

Fees and Payments

12,780

29,520

82

76

150

Advertising and Marketing

4/

7,440

85

4/

38

Contract Services

4/

8,120

96

4/

41

Maintenance and Repair

37,190

69,910

85

221

355

Utilities and Fuels

22,930

35,140

95

137

178

Insurance Premiums

20,290

30,780

82

121

156

Rent/Lease Expenses

10,920

34,150

88

65

173

Miscellaneous

6,410

NA

NA

38

NA

Property Taxes

37,910

82,580

97

226

419

Interest

7,970

39,190

98

47

199

Labor

88,320

168,810

NA

526

857

Capital
Expenditures

180,790

958,130

86

1,076

Purchases of Equine

49,460

254,000

69

294

Purchases of Equipment

68,320

213,690

90

407

Purchases of Land and Capital Improvements

63,010

490,440

92

375

TOTAL

703,650

2,060,070

88

4,188

1/ 2005 labor expenses are
not included in Percent Spent in New York column.
2/ Training included
with Boarding in 2000.
3/ Medicine included
with Health in 2000.
4/ Advertising and Marketing and Contract Services
included in Miscellaneous in 2000.

REVENUES

For the first time, equine operators were asked about
the revenues generated from their equine operation. Total revenues generated
from New York equine owners were $445 million, of which $158 million came from
providing equine services, such as boarding.

EQUINE RELATED REVENUES,
NEW YORK, 2005

Equine Activities Generating Revenue

Gross Receipts

Thousand Dollars

SALES

117,830

Horse Sales

95,140

Equipment Sales/Rental/Lease

13,000

Feed Sales

9,600

Manure Sales

90

TRAINING

75,310

Riding Lessons/Clinics

39,330

Training/Conditioning

33,100

Therapeutic Riding

2,880

BREEDING

32,810

Mare Care

22,900

Stud Fees

9,910

SERVICES

158,390

Boarding

139,420

Sales Preparation

1,770

Trail Riding/Recreational Services

16,220

Equine Judging

510

Guest Farm/Bed and Breakfast/Tourism

470

WINNINGS

60,790

Horse Shows/Competitions

5,990

Rodeo Winnings

680

Racing Purses

54,120

TOTAL

445,130

For complete
results of the Equine Survey, including additional details of equine inventory
and value by breed please see the equine report at our website www.nass.usda.gov/ny
or call our office at 518-457-5570. Results from prior surveys conducted in
1978, 1988, and 2000 are also available.